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Ruidoso Animal Clinic now Cat Friendly Practice certified

Facility adopts practices, policies for happy cats

By staff reports

Posted:
05/15/2014 08:00:06 PM MDT

The American Association of Feline Practitioners has initiated a program to improve the health care and overall well-being of the growing feline population it's calling the Cat Friendly Practice. According to a recent press release by the association, a Cat Friendly Practice is committed to making the vet visit a more pleasant and less stressful experience for cats. With an environment that is adapted to a cat's unique needs, and a caring staff that is trained to interact with and handle them in a way that make examinations and procedures less stressful, a Cat Friendly Practice can make the difference between claw marks or calm.

Ruidoso Animal Clinic climbed on board the initiative. Veterinarian Dr. Amanda Favis of the Ruidoso Animal Clinic said they reevaluated every aspect of the practice from the perspective of the cat.

"We are committed to providing quality care to our patients," Favis said. "When we heard about the association's Cat Friendly Practice Program, we knew it was time to take a fresh look at the practice to determine what could be done to make the veterinary visit more positive for cats and cat owners,"

Changes made to make cats and cat owners more comfortable on their visits to the clinic include feline-only appointment times (no dogs allowed on certain mornings), adaptations in the kennel environment to reduce stress during hospital stays, and special training for "Cat Liaison" staff members.

"The new certification as a Cat Friendly Practice, coupled with the 30-plus years accreditation by the American Animal Hospital Association ensure that the Ruidoso Animal Clinic has the highest standards of health care for your family pet," Favis said.

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"There is a tremendous recognition that while cats are the largest percentage of companion animals in homes, their wellness visits and other types of veterinary care are much lower than for dogs," said Dr. Elizabeth J. Colleran, the association's past-president.